Aquatica Digital 20086 Series User manual

Aquatica Housing For
Nikon Z6 & Z7
#20086

2 | Table of contents
Thank you for purchasing your Aquatica AZ6/7 housing. Before you start
to use your new housing, please read these instructions carefully. Keep
this manual in a safe place for future reference.
This instruction manual assumes that the camera user is already familiar
with the Nikon Z6 or Z7 camera. If not, please read your camera
instruction manual before attempting to use the housing.
Please visit the Aquatica Digital website for further information.
AQUATICA PRODUCT NUMBERS
20086-NK-VC
Aquatica housing for Nikon Z6 and Z7
Including dual Nikonos bulkheads + Surveyor kit
20086-OPT-VC
Aquatica housing for Nikon Z6 and Z7
Including dual optical fiber ports + Surveyor kit
20086-KT-VC
Aquatica housing for Nikon Z6 and Z7
Including dual Ikelite bulkheads + Surveyor kit
Note:
Illustrations shown in this manual may display products different
from the housing you purchased

3 | Table of contents
Table of contents
Table of contents ................................................................................................................................3
Safety precautions ..............................................................................................................................4
Package contents ................................................................................................................................5
Product specifications.........................................................................................................................6
Housing schematics ............................................................................................................................7
Housing functions..........................................................................................................................7
Housing components.....................................................................................................................9
Housing preparation .........................................................................................................................10
Camera installation ...........................................................................................................................11
FTZ adapter installation ....................................................................................................................14
Port mounting...................................................................................................................................15
Port removal .....................................................................................................................................16
Housing closing .................................................................................................................................17
Housing opening ...............................................................................................................................19
Surveyor board and Vacuum pump ..................................................................................................20
Surveyor board ............................................................................................................................20
Using the vacuum monitoring system .........................................................................................22
Flash triggering .................................................................................................................................24
Aqua View Finder..............................................................................................................................26
Care and maintenance ......................................................................................................................29
Housing components...................................................................................................................29
Sacrificial anodes .........................................................................................................................30
O-rings.........................................................................................................................................30
Storage and transportation...............................................................................................................32
Warranty...........................................................................................................................................33

4 | Safety precautions
Safety precautions
Please carefully read and follow the following precautions and
recommendations:
Improper transportation, handling or use of this housing might cause a
flood or a malfunction. Follow all recommendations stated in the next
sections of this manual.
Never remove, change a port or open the housing in a location where sand
or similar foreign material might come in contact with an O-ring. Be wary of
strong winds as they could potentially be carrying sand or other harmful
particulate matter.
Always perform a simple preventive seal test without the camera inside
after doing maintenance on the housing.
Non-authorized use of third party accessories, as well as modifications
and/or alterations not specifically authorized by Aquatica may affect
performance, cause poor functioning of the controls or impair the sealing
integrity of the housing.
Always handle the ports carefully. Protect them when not in use to avoid
scratching the acrylic or glass surface of ports and windows.
Always confirm that the ports remain properly attached before rinsing the
housing. When rinsing without a wired strobe, confirm that the bulkhead
strobes connectors are sealed with their plug.
Never jump into the water with the housing. Have the system handed to
you after you have made your entry or have it lowered to you on a rope.
Never handle the housing by grabbing the port, or if using one, the Aqua
View finder.
Make sure that boat staff are familiar with these procedures and advise them
to manipulate the housing by using the grips provided with the housing.

5 | Package contents
Package contents
AZ6/7 housing
Camera saddle
FTZ adapter saddle
Handle grips (2) with screws (2)
AZ6/7 instruction manual
Lens chart (F-mount and Z-mount)
Spare housing seal O-ring
CR 2032 coin cell battery (for Surveyor)
Aquatica O-ring lubricant container
Set of Allen keys
Optical flash trigger
(for 20085-OPT-VC housings)
CR 2045 coin cell batteries (2)
Vacuum pump

6 | Product specifications
Product specifications
Construction
Housing body
6061-T6 Aluminium
Surface treatment
Anodized + powder coated
Windows
Optical acrylic
Grip handles
Black PVC
Physical
Dimensions WxHxD
(w/o grips)
257mm x 158mm x 160m
10.1” x 6.2” x 6.3”
(W x H x D)
Width (w/ grips)
364mm ~ 14.3” (W)
Weight (w/o camera)
2.88 kg ~ 6.35 lb
Buoyancy
Slightly negative
Depth rating
100 msw - 330 fsw
Features
Locking saddle
Safe locking of the saddle inside
the housing using our proven
locking system. Saddle is easily
released by pressing the locking
tab.
Aqua View finder
compatibility
Aqua View finder 45°
Aqua View finder 180°
Moisture/vacuum
alarm
Supplied with the Surveyor
moisture and vacuum sensor
alarm.
Flash capability1
Housing can be ordered with the
following flash options:
Optical triggering
Nikonos-style bulkhead
Ikelite-style bulkhead
New HDMI bulkhead
Dedicated 25mm HDMI bulkhead
allows external Prores RAW
recording
1Note that all of the AZ6/7 flash triggering options are not TTL compatible.

7 | Housing schematics
Housing schematics
Housing functions

8 | Housing schematics
15
Photo/movie selector
16
Main command dial
17
Monitor mode
18
Delete/Trash
19
Playback
20
Mode dial
21
Plus button
22
Minus button
23
Zoom/Focus gear dial
24
Fn2
25
Fn1
26
F-mount release
27
Z-mount release
1
Port lock release
2
On-Off Lever
3
Record
4
ISO
5
Shutter Release
6
Exposure compensation
7
Sub-command dial
8
Back focus (AF)
9
Sub selector center press
10
Release mode / timer
11
Menu
12
Multi selector buttons
13
Photo mode “i”
14
Disp

9 | Housing schematics
Housing components
21/4-20 UNC thread
3Optical, Nikonos, or Ikelite bulkheads
1
Handle ball mount2(1)
2
Top ball mount2
3
Vacuum valve
4
Flash bulkheads3(2)
5
HDMI bulkhead
6
Handle (2)
7
Rubber pads (5)
8
Zinc anodes (2)
9
16mm bulkhead
10
Tripod mount2(3)
11
Closing latches (2)

10 | Housing preparation
Housing preparation
Follow these steps to prepare your AZ7 housing:
STEP 1: Assemble the grips onto your housing using the provided screws and
Allen key.
STEP 2: Suggested configuration
Strobes arms on the handle ball mounts (1)4
Focus lights or external monitors on Top ball mount (2) 4
Scooter, underwater camera slider, tripod mount on (10) 4
STEP 3: Mount your strobes on the arms and connect them to the housing. For
details about optical flash triggering and wired bulkheads, refer to the
Flash triggering section page 24 Follow your strobe manufacturer
manual and its recommendations.
STEP 4: Before use, remove the main O-ring seal from its groove on the front
half of the housing and carefully verify that the O-ring and its groove
are free from scratches or foreign matter. Lubricate the O-ring with a
light coat of silicone grease.
4Refer to Housing components section

11 | Camera installation
WARNING:
For proper handling of O-rings, follow the detailed
instructions outlined in the Care and maintenance - O-
rings section page 30.
STEP 5: Insert the provided CR 2032 coin cell battery in the Surveyor alarm
(rear half of housing) as described in the Surveyor board section page
20.
Camera installation
Follow these steps to prepare your Nikon Z6 or Nikon Z7 camera for use with
your Aquatica housing.
STEP 1: Remove the saddle from the housing by pressing the saddle locking tab
and pulling the saddle out of the housing.
STEP 2: Tilt the camera monitor screen up.

12 | Camera installation
STEP 3: Install the camera on the saddle by aligning the positioning hole under
the camera and screwing the bottom screw with either a flat
screwdriver or a coin.
STEP 4: Tilt the camera screen down until it is resting on the saddle rear
stoppers. To get a better view of the screen in the water keep the
screen parallel to the camera body.

13 | Camera installation
STEP 4: If you have a lens with a gear installed on the camera pull the zoom-
focus knob and turn it to lock it out prior to installing the camera in
the housing to avoid interference between the gears.
STEP 5: Install the camera inside the housing by aligning the saddle holes with
the two guiding pins in the housing. Push it all the way in until you
hear the locking mechanism click in the housing. Perform a check by
pulling on the saddle to ensure it is firmly attached to the housing.

14 | FTZ adapter installation
FTZ adapter installation
Install the FTZ adapter on its saddle by aligning the positioning hole under the
camera and screwing the bottom screw with either a flat screwdriver or a coin.
You can install the FTZ adapter on the camera before or after putting it in the
housing. To remove an F-mount lens from the housing without removing the
camera or adapter from the housing use the FTZ release button.

15 | Port mounting
Port mounting
The AZ6/7 housing is equipped with a bayonet locking system that firmly
attaches compatible ports and extension rings.
STEP 1: Before mounting the port, remove the O-ring seal from its groove and
carefully verify that the O-ring and its groove are free from scratches
or foreign matter. Lubricate the O-ring with a light coat of silicone
grease. Also check that the O-ring mating surface on the housing is
clean and free of any physical damage.
WARNING:
For proper handling of O-rings, follow the detailed instructions
outlined in the Care and maintenance - O-rings section page 30.
STEP 2: Place the housing on its back on a soft and steady surface.
STEP 3: Place the port or extension ring inside the housing bayonet. Align the
bayonet using the four alignment notches in the housing.

16 | Port removal
STEP 4: Push with even force on both sides of the port or extension ring until
you feel it snap into place. Make sure the bayonet is completely inside
the housing.
STEP 5: Rotate the port clockwise until it stops. Do not force it. If there is too
much resistance, take the port off, check the O-ring and see that the
port or extension ring is properly seated before attempting to rotate it
again.
STEP 6: Confirm that the port or extension ring is safely locked in the housing
by gently trying to rotate it counter-clockwise. The bayonet lock
should prevent any counter-clockwise rotation.
Port removal
STEP 1: While pressing the port release lever, rotate the port or extension ring
counter-clockwise until it stops.
STEP 2: Carefully pull the port or extension ring out of the housing.

17 | Housing closing
Housing closing
STEP 1: Before closing the housing, remove the O-ring seal from its groove and
carefully verify that the O-ring and its groove are free from scratches
or foreign matter. Lubricate the O-ring with a light coat of silicone
grease. Also check that the O-ring mating surface on the housing is
clean and free of any physical damage.
WARNING:
For proper handling of O-rings, follow the detailed instructions
outlined in the Care and maintenance - O-rings section page 30.
STEP 2: Perform either a Surveyor moisture alarm test or a vacuum check if
you are using a pump. Refer to Error! Reference source not found.,
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STEP 3: Be sure that the housing is free of any foreign object that could
interfere during closing.
STEP 4: Be sure that both locking latches on the rear portion of the housing
are unlocked. If unlocked, latches should be able to rotate freely, if
they cannot rotate freely, unlock them by pressing the locking tab and
pulling them out.

18 | Housing closing
STEP 5: Pull the latches out so they don’t interfere with the front portion
hooks upon closing.
STEP 6: Align the rear portion of the housing with the front one using the two
guiding pins.
STEP 7: Close the two housings shells together.
STEP 8: Once both portions of the housing are
pressed against each other, rotate latch
towards the front until it catches the front
hook, and then pull back until it locks into
position. Repeat for second latch.

19 | Housing opening
WARNING:
In the event that you should feel any unusual resistance
when attempting to close your housing, do not force closure.
Reopen and inspect carefully for any potential obstruction
before trying again.
STEP 10: Verify that both latches are locked by
trying to pull them out without
pressing the locking tab. If properly
locked, you should not be able to open
them by simply pulling them out.
Housing opening
Note:
If your housing is under vacuum, you won’t be able to open it directly
with the following procedure. See note in Error! Reference source
ot found., Error! Reference source not found. section.
STEP 1: Unlock both latches by pressing
the locking tabs and pulling them
out.
STEP 2: Rotate both latches to free them
from the front hooks and pull out
the rear portion.

20 | Surveyor board and Vacuum pump
Surveyor board and Vacuum pump
Your AZ6/7 housing comes standard with the Surveyor board and a vacuum
valve factory installed.
Surveyor board
The surveyor board has two independent sub-systems, a moisture detection
system and a vacuum monitoring system.
To insert your CR 2032 battery:
STEP 1: With the (+) side facing up, slip the battery under the plastic tab (A) at
an angle.
STEP 2: Push the part of the battery that is sticking out into the holder (on B
side) until it locks in.
To remove your CR 2032 battery:
STEP 1: Push the plastic tab (B) away from the holder.
STEP 2: Grab the battery by the sides sticking out of the holder and pull it out.
1
Sensor circuit
2
Battery holder
3
Vacuum power switch
4
CR 2032 3V battery
5
External LED point
6
Integrated warning LED
7
Probe wire harness